Aussie Pride

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!" Beneath our radiant southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"   Written by Peter Dodds McCormick in the late 1800’s,  this song was submitted for consideration after a competition organised by our then prime minister, Gough Whitlam, to find a suitable replacement for “God Save the Queen”, revealed no suitable submissions. It then became one of three recommendations for our new National Anthem and won with an overwhelming response on the polls  and, in 1984, was adopted as our official National Anthem. My year 6/7 class and I dissected the above two verses from this song…. our National Anthem…… together yesterday. When you really stop and think about the words and what they mean, the song hasn’t lost its gloss…..even after 100+ years……. it gives you goosebumps and makes you proud, even in adversity, to be an Aussie! I can feel a barby coming on!!!! Happy Australia Day everyone! and many, Sugary hugs XXX Wendy :0)